Walk 1519 - printer friendly version

Catleton & Speedwell Cavern Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.3 miles / 6.9 km

Ascent - 650 feet / 197 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SK149829
Lat 53.342791 + Long -1.7776702
Postcode S33 8WN (approx. location only)

This circular Peak District walk starts from Castleton, which is a popular spot for tourists. There is a large pay and display car park adjacent to the Tourism Information Centre at grid ref. SK149829. There are plenty of opportunities for refreshment in the village either before you start the walk or after you have returned.

Exit the car park and turn left along Buxton Road and walk as far as the T-junction. Turn right here along Back Street which leads to the Market Place. Here bear right and continue along The Stones which leads directly into Goosehill. Towards the end of this lane take the signed footpath (grid ref. SK147826) bearing right towards Speedwell Cavern with the wall to your immediate right. This path climbs gently offering good views to your right of the Castleton Ridge.

Reaching the road by Speedwell Cavern (grid ref. SK139827), take the footpath almost opposite (just to your right). This leads through a field to a junction of paths (not too evident) where you turn right down to another road (grid ref. SK139826). Turn left along this road, which is the old main road to Buxton but now closed after the large landslip on the southern flank of Mam Tor. Continue along this road for just under a mile to reach the site of the landslip where an information board tells the story of what happened.

Continue to the end of the tarmac (grid ref. SK132829) where the old road bends sharply to the left. Take the signed footpath on the right and follow a track to Mam Farm. Stay on the track past the farm to the next house. Keep to the right of this property following the path across a number of fields to reach a complex junction of paths and track just to the east of Woodseats (grid ref. SK137842). Follow the track eastwards for a short way until you reach a no access sign. Here the path away from the track following a wall which should be immediately on your right to meet with one of the main paths leading up to the Castleton Ridge (grid ref. SK141841).

Turn right here and follow the clear track which leads into Hollowford Road and takes you into Castleton. Reaching the main road, go straight ahead to turn left into Buxton Road with the car park on your right.

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